Chapter 12
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: Fiery Capitalism
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Korea Awakening Management Bureau.
Haegyeom had come to visit this place.
And.
‘Seeing him in the flesh for the first time.’
The world's No. 5 hunter, Korea's top hunter who had successfully climbed all the way to the 67th floor.
He came face-to-face with the Sword Emperor, Baek Jihun.
‘Hmm.’
A sharp, blade-like aura emanated from the man dressed impeccably in a modified hanbok.
‘I thought he had charisma even on TV, but...’
Seeing him in person felt entirely different.
Was this the presence of the nation's No. 1?
His vitality made it hard to believe he was over 70.
He exuded rock-solid principles and conviction.
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Baek Jihun.”
“I'm Haegyeom Yi. It's an honor to meet you, Sword Emperor.”
“Nonsense. If anyone's honored, it's me—meeting the famous SSS+ conqueror.”
Haegyeom replied without letting his guard down.
“...You're too kind. You wanted to see me, right?”
“No special reason. I just wanted to know what kind of person you are.”
“I see.”
“You might just be Korea's hope, after all.”
“......”
“So, I have a question for you.”
The Sword Emperor closed his eyes briefly, then looked straight at Haegyeom.
“Do you have any plans to leave Korea?”
Eyes heavy with years of experience bored into him.
Meeting that gaze, Haegyeom pondered.
‘Should I give him the answer he wants?’
He debated how best to respond.
The man said it was just curiosity, but that couldn't be all.
Someone of the Sword Emperor's stature could wield serious influence over contracts.
...No, there definitely was more.
He'd heard that the Sword Emperor had pulled strings to improve Haegyeom's contract terms.
And.
‘His intentions are obvious anyway...’
It wasn't hard to guess what the man wanted.
The absolute sword guardian who had protected Korea for decades.
Some called him a fool, but every Korean owed him a debt.
A man like that would surely.
‘Want me to stay in Korea.’
He'd value ‘patriotism’ highly.
But.
‘...I don't have any of that.’
That was far from Haegyeom's own values.
In the end, he had to choose.
Lie and give the answer the man wanted?
Or speak the truth, wanted or not?
“......Hmm.”
He decided.
“Depending on the situation, I might leave.”
“...I see.”
“Yes. If it's more advantageous for me over there.”
“......”
The Sword Emperor gazed at him with an inscrutable expression.
Then he asked softly.
“By ‘advantageous,’ do you mean financial compensation?”
“...That's the main one, yes.”
And then.
“Thank you.”
The man bowed his head to Haegyeom out of nowhere.
“...!?”
Haegyeom was flustered.
This was Korea's No. 1 hunter, an elder by decades.
“No... why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“You were honest. You said you'd stay in Korea if we treat you right.”
“...Pardon?”
But the surprise didn't end there.
‘Did he mishear me?’
He'd clearly said he might leave depending on conditions.
Stay in Korea?
‘Is this some kind of veiled threat?’
The thought crossed his mind for a moment.
But no.
The Sword Emperor had understood perfectly.
And it wasn't a threat.
“In other words, treat you properly, and you'll stay in Korea, right?”
“?!”
“A talent with five straight SSS+ clears, brimming with growth potential. Someone who's even snagged an ultimate item like ‘Newbie Shield.’ If money can buy that loyalty, how could a fortune be too much?”
Treat him right for his abilities, and he'd never leave.
—That's what he meant.
“......”
Haegyeom was speechless.
‘W-Well, he's not wrong.’
It wasn't incorrect.
Still.
Something about it felt like unhinged zeal.
“Tell me if you need anything, anytime. We'll fully support your future climbs. If need be, I'll even lend you the empty title of Sword Emperor.”
He was dead set on nurturing Haegyeom and keeping him in Korea.
A fierce, blazing madness.
He'd been thrown off at first.
But as they talked, Haegyeom got a read on the Sword Emperor.
He summed the man up like this.
‘A fiercely rational patriot.’
No one surpassed his love for the nation.
But he hated harming others for it or forcing patriotism on them.
If someone wanted to be patriotic, give them damn good reasons to.
—That was Sword Emperor Baek Jihun.
And.
‘...A hot-blooded capitalist grandpa.’
A bit crude, but it fit perfectly.
His way of reeling Haegyeom in was brutally simple.
“Heh. We've set your salary to the max we can offer right now. Honestly, it stacks up against any other country.”
Money.
“If it's still not enough, just say the word. I'll make it happen somehow.”
Not enough? Throw more money at it.
Haegyeom wanted the cash too, but this was borderline terrifying.
“...Yes. Thank you.”
After thanking the Sword Emperor.
Team Leader Yeowon Han from the High-Rank Hunter Management Division entered and laid out the exact contract details.
“As mentioned, these are top-tier terms for Korea. Your annual salary has been raised from 100 billion won to 200 billion.”
Salary doubled.
‘...Not sure I'll ever spend it all.’
But the point was recognition of his worth.
The amount itself wasn't the key.
“And, um... please don't abuse it, but you also have ‘summary judgment authority.’”
“Summary judgment authority?”
He'd never heard the term.
“Yes. It's a super-legal power to independently judge and punish crimes.”
“!?”
Haegyeom was dumbfounded.
“They... give out stuff like that...?”
Great treatment was one thing, but this seemed excessive.
But.
“Hunter-related crimes are always messy. Self-defense issues crop up constantly too.”
“...”
“So, it's a limited authority granted to major domestic hunters.”
They deemed it necessary.
“In short, it's mainly to prevent hunters from getting screwed by villains or legal red tape.”
To protect top talent, it was essential.
‘What kind of insane power is this?’
Of course, abuse wasn't allowed.
Straying too far from court rulings could bring penalties, per the fine print.
‘...Still ridiculous.’
Haegyeom realized anew how desperately they wanted him.
He'd thought he'd never use it, but now he wasn't so sure.
“Oh, and about that item you mentioned, ‘Newbie Shield.’”
“Yes.”
“Could you coordinate its use date with us?”
“That's no problem.”
“Thank you. Using it with full prep and notice could boost our overall hunter strength.”
Haegyeom thought of the Newbie Shield.
As a nationwide buff, timing it strategically made sense.
‘The Bureau will take care of me in return.’
No loss for him.
Then.
The Sword Emperor, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
“About that Newbie Shield.”
“Yes.”
“With it, I might finally clear the 68th floor.”
Yeowon jumped in shock.
“Really, Sword Emperor!?”
“Indeed.”
“This... this is double good news!”
Haegyeom was surprised too.
‘I figured it'd help his stalled climb, but...’
He hadn't expected the man to say it outright.
It was a highly useful item, the Newbie Shield.
“Truth be told, I was planning to squeeze in some tower climbs during the ‘beginner protection period’ myself.”
“Miss Yeowon, you...?”
“34th floor. Stuck at the 35th wall.”
“Ah! Tough one. Keep at it.”
“Yes!”
Not just the Sword Emperor—every Korean hunter would benefit.
“A once-in-a-lifetime chance. We must seize it and grow big.”
“Of course, Sword Emperor. I'll notify the Bureau and friendly guilds. No one misses this.”
“Heh. Excellent.”
So.
“Ah, by the way.”
Haegyeom added to the two plotting maximum efficiency from the Newbie Shield.
“In the contract terms, all rewards from towers and gates go to me, right? All rights?”
“Yes, correct.”
“I see.”
“Why do you ask...?”
“Nothing major.”
Transcendent Clear! (Repeat) (In Progress)
Achieve SSS+ clear (0/5) to obtain ‘Newbie Shield’ as reward.
“I think I can get a few more of those Newbie Shields.”
Because it was a repeatable achievement.
“......Pardon?”
“......What did you just say?”
What else?
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Twice now.